Tripoli

TRIPOLI, a city in Syria, and the seat of administration of the sanjak of North Lebanon in French mandated territory, mod.

Tarcibulus. It is situated about 2 m. inland from its port El-Mina, to which it is joined by a tramway. Pop. 36,000 (26,00o Muslims). Although there is no harbour, strictly speaking, there is safe anchorage on each side of the peninsula on which El-Mina stands, and small craft can shelter behind an old Phoenician breakwater. The city has a French garrison, and a number of mission and other schools. The chief industries are soap manufacture, sponge fish ing, tobacco cultivation, and fruit growing. It has an export trade in fruit (especially oranges), eggs and cotton.

History.

Tripoli is known only by its Greek name. Founded after 700 B.C., it became in the Persian period the capital for the Phoenician triple federation—Sidon, Tyre and Aradus. Each of the three had its own district in the "triple town," which at that time stood on the El-Mina peninsula. The Seleucids and Romans

extended and embellished the city. The Muslims took possession in A.D. 638. In 1109 it surrendered to Raymund of St. Gilles, after a five years' siege. A great library founded by 'Ammar, the ruling family, and consisting, it is said, of Too,000 volumes, was con signed to the flames. When Sultan Kald'an of Egypt took the town in 1289 it was destroyed, and a new city arose on the present site. Tripoli was often a disputed possession of the rival princes of Aleppo and Acre. In 1834 during the Egyptian conquest of Syria, it was made a centre of administration. British cavalry and armoured cars took possession of it on Oct. 13, 1918. It was in corporated in the State of Grand Liban by an arrete of the French high commissioner (Gen. Gouraud) on Aug. 31, 192o. (E. Ro.)